Affordability is a driving factor when purchasing a home for retirement, says Danny Goodman, COO of 55places.com, a resource for active adult communities in the U.S.
“Whether retirees are looking to stay close to family, move to a warmer climate, adopt a low-maintenance lifestyle, or join the camaraderie that comes with active adult communities, the small towns recognized here offer practical options and attractive amenities at a reasonable price point,” Goodman says.
55places culled data on median incomes, cost of living, average home sale price, taxes, active adult communities, health care, job growth, and more for its 2019 small-town rankings. Metros with a population of 55,000 or less were ranked in the study.
The 20 most affordable small towns to retire in 2019 are:
- Logan, Utah
- Wausau, Wis.
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Winchester, Va.
- Dunedin, Fla.
- West Lafayette, Ind.
- Concord, N.H.
- Cœur d'Alene, Idaho
- Mankato, Minn.
- Neenah, Wis.
- Goshen, Ind.
- Blacksburg, Va.
- Bangor, Maine
- Marion, Iowa
- Gettysburg, Pa.
- Columbus, Ind.
- Dodge City, Kan.
- Lewiston, Maine
- Ithaca, N.Y.
- Gainesville, Ga.
Most surveyed retirees say they want to spend $300,000 or less on their next home. 55places surveyed its readers and found that 30 percent expect to spend $200,000 or less on their next home, while 62 percent expect to pay $300,000 or less. Twenty-six percent of retirees expect to spend “about the same” on their retirement home compared to their current home, 27 percent said “slightly less,” and 24 percent said “much less.”
Source: “The Most Affordable Small Towns to Retire in 2019,” 55places.com (March 25, 2019)
